Dehorning-gate.



PATBNTED MAY 22, 1906.

M. H. BIDWBLL. DEHGRNING GATE.

APPLIOATION Hmm JAN. 1e, 190e.

2 SHETS-SHEBT 2.

7 o E] El o oo DEI MARSHALL H. BIDWELL, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

DEHORNING-GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 190e.

Application filed January 16, 1906. Serial No. 296,256.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARSHALL H. BIDwELL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dehorning- Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dehorning structures; and my object is to produce an eflicient and reliable structure of a character which will accommodate cattle of dierent sizes and by which the cattle can be quickly caught and held during the dehorning operation and then as quickly released.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dehorning structure as arranged in conjunction with a cattle-chute. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view with the lever thrown back and with the gate-posts at the outer sides of the chute. Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV IV of Fig. 3.

In the said drawings, 1 2 respectively indicate the latch and hinge posts of the structure connected, by preference, at their lower ends by sill 3 and near their upper ends by cross-bar 4, the front side of the latter, by preference, being iiush with the front side of post 1, but rearward of the corresponding side of post 2.

5 indicates a block bolted to the front side of post 1 and preferably equipped with a cushion 6 at its upper end and With a bracket 7, projecting from its face, connecting said block 5 with a block 8. Secured to the upper end of post 1 is a bar 9 which bar is connected by a transverse bar 10 to post 2, said bars 9 and 10, in connection with post 1 and crossbar 4, connecting posts 1 and 2, forming connecting slots or ways which extend at right angles to each other.

11 indicates a gate hinged, as at 12 or otherwise, to post 2, one strap of the upper hinge being preferably extended to form a tongue 13 to project beyond block 5 and engage the bifurcated bracket 7, a pin 14, preferably carried by the bracket, being utilized to secure the tongue 13 in the bracket, and therefore lock the gate closed.

15 indicates a recess in the upper edge of the gate near its free end, the wall of the recess being covered with rubber or equivalent material 16 to reduce chance of abrasion of the animals neck. Pivoted to the gate, as at 17, at the end of the recess most remote from the post l, is a neck-lever 18, having an arched portion 19 to fit over the animals neck just behind the horns, the arch and recess together forming an elliptical opening when the leveris down. Said lever projects normally through the slot or Way between bars 4 and 10 hereinbefore referred to and when down through the slot between post 1 and bar 9 and rests upon the cushion 6, which cushion is provided mainly to deaden the sound when the lever is thrown upon it through the medium of the cable 20, lsaid cable when the lever is thrown back, as shown in Fig. 3, engaging a pin 21, projecting laterally from the upper end of post 1.

When the neck-lever is down, it is locked in such position by a pin 22 engaging one of a series of vertical holes 23 in post 1, and said pin is preferably attached to the block 5, so as to be always conveniently at hand by the chain or cable 24.

25 indicates brackets secured to the gate near its hinged end, and journaled therein is the depending arm 27 of a nose-lever 26, adapted to operate in a horizontal plane and `having a forwardly-bowed portion 28 opposite recess 15, said bowed portion being adapted to lit over the nose of the animal, and to prevent abrading the nose is preferably covered with a piece of rubber hose 29. When the nose-lever is closed, as shown in Fig. 1, it rests upon the supporting-bracket 30, carried by the gate between the free end thereof and its recess. To secure the lever quickly and reliably in position, a flexible connection, such as chain 31, is secured to the outer side of post 1 to be looped around said lever and then have one of its links slipped over a pin 32, projecting laterally from block 5, or the chain may be coiled around said pin or otherwise reliably anchored to the block for the purpose of preventing the animal from pushing the nose-lever forward.

The dehorning structure described may be fitted and secured between the sides 33 of a IOC cattle-chute or may be fitted and secured to the outer sides of said chute, the special arrangement being unimportant, provided the connection is secure, and in order to prevent the cattle from jumping over the gate in an attempt to escape from the chute I provide a IIO cross-bar 34, which may be secured in slotted j arms 35, secured rigidly to posts l and 2, it being obvious that said arms 35 in practice may form the upper rails oi the chute, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

In practice the cattle are compelled to pass through the chute, the neck-lever at such time occupying the position shown in Fig. 3, so as to provide a large opening through which the animal may poke his head, the nose-lever at the same time occupying substantially the position shown in Fig. 2. At the instant the animal pokes his head through said opening the gate attendant, who is grasping cable 20, pulls d ownward upon the same, so as to swing the neck-lever from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. l, so that the arch of said lever shall fit over the animals neck and torce the same down into the recess l5. The attempt of the animal to withdraw his headbeing thus frustrated, the operator while thus holding the animals head in the position described slips pin 22 into the opening 23 next above the lever, it being obvious` that the size of the animals neck will determine into which hole the pin is slipped. The action described is performed in an instant, and then the operator grasps the nose-lever and swings it to the position shown in Fig. l., so as to iit over the nose and Aforce the head downward in the most convenient position for removing the horns, said lever being secured in the position last described through theI instrumentality oi chain 31 and pin 32. The operator now removes the horns, usually by sawing them o close to the head. Ile then effects the release oi the nose-lever, withdraws pin 22, and throws the neck-lever up to its originalposition and at practically the same instant removes pin 14 and swings the gate open to permit the animal to pass through the gateway, it being noticed in this connection that when the neck-lever is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the gate can be opened and closed, because the slot between bars Ll and 10 is sufficiently wide to accommodate the movement of the lever during such operation. Immediately ai'ter the animal emerges the gate is reclosed and locked and the other movable elements properly disposed for the reception of the next animal.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a dehorning structure possessing the desirable features of strength, durability, and ease and convenience in operation, which may obviously be modified in minor particulars without departing from the principle of construction involved.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A dehorning structure embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side oi the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post, and provided with a recess in its upper edge, and a lever .hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to project through either oi said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end.

Y 2. A dehorning structure embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side oi the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post, and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to proj ect through either of said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, and means to secure the lever depressed with its arched portion forming an opening ln conjunction with said recess. 3. A dehorning structure'embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side oi the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post, and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side oi said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to proj ect through either oi said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, and a flexible connection attached to said lever.

4. A dehorning structure embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post, and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to project through either oi' said slots or guideways and pro- ,vided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, a iiexible connection attached to said lever, and a pin projecting outwardly from the latch-post to temporarily support said flexible connection.

5. A dehorning structure embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post, and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to project through one of said slots or guideways and provided with an'arched portion at its pivoted end, a block to form a stop for the lever when deressed, and means to lock said lever upon said block. I

6. A dehorning structure embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to project through' one of said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, a

IOO

IIO

block to form a stop for the lever when depressed, and a locking-pin to engage the latchpost above said lever.

7. A dehorning structure embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to project through one of said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, a block to form a stop for the lever when depressed, a locking-pin to engage the latchpost above said lever, and a iiexible connection between said pin and the latch-post side of the gateway. j

8. A dehorning structure embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to proj ect through one of said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, and a second lever hinged to the gate and provided forward of the same with a forwardlyprojecting bowed portion.

9. A dehorning structure embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged 'to the hinge-post and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to project through one of said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, a second lever hinged to the gate and provided forward of the same with a forwardlyprojecting bowed portion, and a bracket forming a support for the last-named lever between its bowed portion and free end.

10. A dehorning structure embodying gate-posts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to project through one of said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, a second lever hinged to the gate and provided forward of the same with a forwardly-projecting bowed portion, a bracket forming a support for the last-named lever between its bowed portion and free end, and means to secure said last-named lever to the latch-post side of the gateway.

l1. A dehorning structure embodying gate-posts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post and provided with a recess in its upper edge, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to project through one of said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, a second lever hinged to the gate and provided forward of the same with a forwardly-projecting bowed portion, a bracket vforming a support for the last-named lever between its bowed portion and free end, a pin rigidly projecting from the latch-post side of the gateway, and a iieXible connection attached at one end to said side of the gateway l and adapted to engage the last-named lever and said pin to lock the former reliably closed.

1.2. A dehorning-gate embodying gateposts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post, and provided with a recess in its upper edge, means to lock the gate closed, and a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hingepost and adapted to project through one of said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end.

13. A dehorning structure embodying gate-posts having slots or guideways at the upper end and latch-post side of the gateway, a gate hinged to the hinge-post, and provided with a recess in its upper edge, means to lock the gate closed, a lever hinged to the gate at the side of said recess nearest the hinge-post and adapted to project through one of said slots or guideways and provided with an arched portion at its pivoted end, and a second lever hinged to the gate and provided forward of the same with a forwardly-projecting bowed portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARSHALL H. BIDWELL.

Witnesses.

J. M. ADAMS, G. Y. THORIE.

IOO 

